Car-track-sanding device.



No. 692,938. Patent-ed Feb. H, I902.

, A. SPRAGUE.

CAR TRACK SANDING DEVICE.

(Application filed Jilly 12, 1901.) (No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet I.

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A. L. SPR AGUE. CAR TRACK SANDING DEVICE.

(Application filed July 12, 1901.)

-(No Model.) 4 Sh'eeiv-Sheet 2.

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No. 692,938. Patented Feb. ll, |902 I A. L. SPRAGUE.

CAR TRACK SANDING DEVICE. (Application filed ,Tul 12, 1901.

(No Model.) 7 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Wfiq 125525. T I IQfEQ 13K :2 /%AW Z W 'No. 692,938. Patented Feb. ll, I902. A. L. SPRAGUE CAR TRACK SANDING DEVICE.

(Appl cat nfilclJuly 12 1901) Model.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

.ABRAHAM L. SPRAGUE, OF MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SPRAGUE CAR APPLIANCE COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

CAR-TRACK-SANDING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 692,938, dated February 1 1, 1902.

Application filed July 12, 1901. Serial No. 67,973. (No model.)

- To-aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM L. SPRAGUE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milton, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in (Jar-Track-Sanding Devices, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to improvements in car-track-sanding devices adapted for use on :0 tramway or motor cars for the purpose of sanding the rail or rails when slippery or when going up grades, as will hereinafterbe more fully shown and described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 represents a topplan view of the invention as applied to a' tram or motor car.

Fig. 2 represents a partial side elevation of a car provided with my improved car-tracksanding device. Fig. 3 represents a detail side elevation of the mechanism for operating the rotary cylinder of the sanding device, showing said mechanism in its normal position. Fig. 4 represents a similar view showing said mechanism in operative position. 2 5 Fig. 5 represents a cross-section on the line 5 5, shown in Fig. 3. -Fig. 6 represents a detail exterior end view of the head attached to one end of the rotary sand-receptacle. Fig. 7 represents an interior end view of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 represents a side view of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 represents a cross-section on the line 9 9, shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 represents a crosssection on the line 10 10, shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 11 represents a detail top plan view of the sanding device, parts being shown in section. Fig. 12 represents an end elevation as seen from X in Fig-11. Fig. 13 represents an interior end view-of the stationary hood or cover into which the sand is conveyed from the rotary receptacle during the rotation-of the latter. Fig. 14 represents a vertical section on the line 1414, shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 15 represents a central longitudinal section on the line 15 15, shown in Fig. 12; and Fig.

16 represents an exterior end View of the stationary hood or cover.

Similar letters refer to similar parts wherever they occur on thedider'ent parts of the drawings. I

A in Figs. 1 and 2 represents the car-frame,

' B the floor, of which B is one of the end plat forms, and O the dasher, as is common in electric or other motor cars. E E represent the wheels at one end of the car, said wheels being secured to the axle F, which is suitably journaled in bearings beneath the car-frame, as usual. G Gare the rails of the car-track.

The improved track-sanding device is composed of an intermittently rotary preferably cylindrical sand-receptacle II, having secured to its inner end or cast integraltherewith a solid end piece H, in one piece with which is preferably made the central shaft or trunnion h, journaled in a bearing-bracket I, secured in a suitable manner to the cross-bar or pilotboard A or other portion of the car-frame, as may be most practical.

Preferably integral with the end portion II of the sand-receptacle H is a ratchet-wheel h. (Shown in Figs. 3,4, 11, 12, and 15.) On the trunnion or spindle h is pivoted a lever K, and to the latter is pivoted at Z a pawl L, that engages the ratchet-wheel h, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 11, 12, and 15.

Preferably in one piece with the bracket I is made an arm or projection I, which is connected by means of a preferably-coiled spring I to the lever K, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 12.

I is a stop projection on the bracket I, which serves as a stop for limiting the backward motion of the lever K when released.

' M is a second pawl pivoted at m tov the bracket I, which pawl is held in engagement with'the ratchet-wheel it either by gravity or spring-pressure, and it serves the purpose of holding the said ratchet-wheel h and the sandreceptacle connected to itin a stationary position during the backward motion of the lever K and-pawl L, as represented in Figs. 3, J 4, and 12. For the purpose of intermittently rotating the said receptacle H from time to time, as needed to discharge a quantity'of sand on the rail in front of the wheel or wheels, I preferably make use of a pedal actuated mechanism, (shown in Figs. 3 and 4,) which is constructed as follows:

To the under side of the platform B is secured a bracket N, to which is pivoted at n a knee or bell-crank lever N N", which is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 3 by the influence of a spring 0, secured in one end to the bell-crank portion N and in the other end preferably to an extension N on the lower portion of the bracket N, as shown in Figs 3 and 4.

P is a pedal preferablyguided in a bushing Z) in the platform B, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. The lower end of said pedal is preferably forked, as shown in Fig. 5, and is supported upon the bell-crank portion N, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. When the motorman depresses the pedal P, it causes the bellcrank N N to assume the position shown in Fig. 4.

To the upper end of the lever K is pivotally connected a metal rod or link Q, the forward end of which is provided on its upper side with a toothed or serrated rack q, (shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4,) and said serrated portion of the said link or rod Q is loosely guided in the lower end of the bell-crank portion N, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. To the bell-crank portion N is pivoted or hung at n a pawl N, which is provided with an upwardly-projecting hook N adapted to rest upon a tooth or projection on the lower end ofthe bracket N when the bell-crank lever N N is in its normal position, (shown in Fig. 3,) and when in such position the pawl .L 4 is held raised out of engagement with the rack q, as represented in Fig. 3. lVhen the pedal P is depressed it causes the bell-crank lever NNto turn from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4, and during the first portion of such rocking motion of said bell-crank lever the hook N is disengaged from the tooth of, cansing the pawl N to drop by gravity into engagement with the rack q, whereby the rod Q is caused to be moved in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. at, thereby causing the sand receptacle or drum H to be turned a partial revolution around its axis by the engagement of the pawl L with the ratchet-wheel h on said sand-receptacle, from which a proper quantity of sand is then discharged, as will hereinafter be described. When the operator relieves his footpressure from the pedal P, the knee-lever N N will automatically be returned to the position shown in Fig. 3 by the influence of the spring 0, and during such movement the pawl N will be automatically raised out of engage ment with the rack g by the pawl-hook N engaging the projection n in the lower end of the bracket N, as shown in Fig. 3, and during such release of the link Q its lever K is automatically swung from theposition shown in Fig. 4: to that shown in Fig. 3 by the influence of the spring I, in which position the sand-receptacle is held stationary until the pedal P is again depressed for intermittently rotating the sand-receptacle for discharging therefrom a proper and desired quantity of sand.

The sand-distributing device used in connection with the intermittently rotary sand receptacle or cylinder 11 is constructed as fol lows: WVithin one end of said cylinder H is secured in a suitable manner a preferably cast-iron head or diaphragm R, provided with a series of peripheral ports 1' r. Integral with said head R are cast a series of internal receiving and external delivery buckets R and R, which are in communicationwith each other by means of theports r r, as shown in Figs. 8, 11, and 15. Integral with the head R and external buckets R is cast an annular ring'RF. To'the said head R is secured or made integral with it a spindle or axle R, which is journaled ina bearing-bracket S, secured to the cross-bar or pilot-board A, as shown in Figs. 1, 2,11, 15, and 16. Attached to the bracket S is a preferably conical hood T, provided at its under side with a deliveryspout T, from which the sand-drops onto the rail in front of the car-wheel during the intermittent rotary motion of the sand-receptacle H. To the interior of said hood Tis secured a tapering chute 1", open from top to bottom, as shown in Figs 13, 14, 15, and 16, which serves to receive the sand from the buckets B. and to convey it to the said chute T, from which it is caused to drop through the-spout T onto the rail in front of the wheel. During the rotation of the sand-receptacle H the sand contained therein is carried by the internal buckets R and conveyed through the ports 0* into the outer buckets R and discharged therefrom through the inner open ends 0" of said buckets B into the chute T and through the spout or discharge-opening T, as above described. The front edge 4* of the inner buckets R projects slightly in advance of the edge r of the port 0 in the head R for the purpose of covering or overlapping the space behind such port, thereby preventing the sand from escaping through said port from the sand-receptacle after the sand has been discharged through the outer buckets R. The inner buckets R serve the purpose of feeding the sand through the port-holes 1' into the outer buckets R, from which it drops into the chute 'T and through the spout T onto the rail when any one of the outer buckets R" reaches its highest position during the intermittent rotary motion of the sandreceptacle.

From the above it will be seen that the desired quantity of sand may be discharged onto the rail in front of the wheel simply by depressing the pedal P one or more times, causing the sand-receptacle H to be intermittently rotated and causing the inner buckets R to feed the sand through the ports '1 and conduct a portion of the sand into the outer buckets R, from which it is delivered into the chute T and conducted through the spout T onto the rail.

H is a removable cover on the sand-receptacle H, covering and opening in the same, through which said receptacle may be charged with sand from time to time, as needed.

It will be noticed that this, my improved sanding device, is entirely devoid of any valves, shutters, or intermittently-actuated opening or closing devices liable to become clogged and obstructed, my device being provided with a series of internal and external buckets connected by ports through a head, by which ports a communication is established between the said inner and outerbuckets, thesinner buckets preventing the sand fromescaping through said port-holes after the inner and outer buckets have reached-or passed their highest position during their rotation.

Having thus fully described the nature, construction, and operation ofmy invention, I wish to secure by Letters Patent and claim-,-

1. The herein-described car-track-sanding device consisting of an intermittently-actuated rotary sand-receptacle H having internal and external buckets secured within one end of said receptacle, ports connecting said internal and external buckets, a stationary hood arranged adjacent to said buckets, a chute within said hood and a discharge opening or spout leading from the said hood substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The herein-described car-track-sanding device consisting of an intermittently-actuated rotary sand-receptacle having internal and external buckets connected by ports, a stationary hood containing a chute and discharge spout or opening and intermediate connecting mechanism to a pedal for imparting an intermittent rotary motion to said sand-receptacle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a car-track-sanding device, an intermittently rotary sand-receptacle H having in one of its ends a head R provided with pa ripheral ports 4", internal and external bucket's R and R eachof the former having its forward edge 7" projecting slightly in advance ofthe forward edge r of the port 7- for the purpose herein set forth and described.

4. In a car-track-sanding device an intermittently-actuated rotary sand-receptacle having attached to it a ratchet-wheel actuated by a rocking pawl-carrying lever, combined with a link or rod Q connected to said lever and having a rack q in its forward end, a bracket N secured to the forward portion of the car, a bell-crank lever-pivoted to said bracket, a pedal for actuating said bell-crank lever, and a pawl N pivoted to said bellcrank lever for engagement with said rack during the depression of the said pedal sub stantially as and for the purpose set forth In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ABRAHAM L. SPRAGUE.

Witnesses:

ALBAN ANDREN, CHARLES L. ABBOTT. 

